Electroplated insulated conductor of electricity



(No Model.)

N. H. EDGBRTON. ELEGTROPLATED INSULATED CONDUCTOR OP 'ELEGTRIGITY.

Patented May 8,1883.

0 mm m g mw mw l w w B WITNESSES! ZZM 6 v /Qw mammo ram Waxhmgton. n. c.

were UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NATHAN EDGERTOX- OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

ELECTROPLATED INSULATED CONDUCTOR OF ELECTRICITY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 277,248, dated. May 8, 1883,

Application tiled September 5. 1852. (X0 model.) I

1'0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that LNATHAN ILEDoEeToN,

ot' the city and county of Philadelphia, in the State of Iennsylvania, have invented certain.

Improvements in Electroplated Insulated Condoctors of Electricity, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a certain welhknown class of devices employed for the conduction of electrical currents, and consisting of a conductor incased in or coated. with an envelope of insulating material, which in turn is incased in and protected by a metal covering deposited by electrolysis, or otherwise formed and applied thereto.

lleretofore in conductors of this class, in which, I may premise, the exterior coating is almost invariably applied either by electrolysis or electro-deposition, the exterior coating, being of a crystalline character, has been liable to fracture at every abrupt turn or short bending of the conductor. As will be readily understood, it is impossible to handle and transport these conductors in sufficiently long straight lengths, and it is necessary either to coil them in coils of unwieldy dimensions or else to fold them at predetermined intervals along'thcirlengthinto shorterstraightlengths.

As neither of these methods has ever been practical by reason of the fracturing of the covering, conductors of this character have only been employed in very short; lengths.

The object of'my invention is to provide a means whereby electroplated insulated condoctors can be folded into a series 'of equal short lengths without destruction to their coatings.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents, partially in side elcvatiou, partially in central vertical longitudinal section, and

partially in transverse section, an elcctroplated insulated conductor of the character referred to. Fig. .Zre'presents, partially in side elevation and partially in central vertical longitudinal section, a conductor of'the above class constructed in accordance with my inventiou,the right-hand side showing an interlength of the u'ncoated conductor bent sharply to enable the parallel'folding of the adjacent coated lengths. Fig. 3 is a similar view of the same conductor straightened out und in readiness to be laid. Fig.4 is a similar view of the conductor of Fig. 3, represented as. protected as to its straightened uncoatetl interlenglh by a coupling, which is itself represented in partial side elevation and partial section. Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of the conductor and coupling represented in Fig.4.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A represents a primary conductor, being a core preferably composed of copper wire, which is the metal usually employed for conducting currents of electricity.

B is an envelope, coating, or integnment of suitable insulating material-such, for instance, as cotton, wax, parafiiue, gutta-percha. or kerite-which is applied to the primary conductor in any usual manner.

Grepresents a covering, heinga metal coating upon the insulated envelope applied by electrolysis, deposition, or kindred well-known method. t

In so for as my employment of the above elements goes, I have in no wise departed from the usual practice of the manufacture of these conductors. In the practice of my invention, however, taking a primary conductor of any desired length, I coat it to the extent of its full length with its insulating-envelope. The insulated conductor so made is-of course pliable without damage to its envelope. Assume that I desire to fold my conductors into a series of short lengths, averaging approximately twenty feet. I then deposit or otherwise apply the coating to the conductor in lengths of twenty feet, leaving intermediate interlengths of the insulated conductor, of approximately six inches each,'uncoated. These uncoated interlengths are adapted to vbe readily bent, so as to bring the coated lengths contiguous on either side thereto into a parallel position. The conductor so prepared and folded is in readiness for transportation or storage, and can be easily handled.

'Iolay. the conductor, its folded lengths are simply unfolded, so as to straighten it. to its full length. Having done this, it is necessary, of course, to protect'thc intcrlcngths, which are devoid of covering. This can be accomplished in a very simple manner by slipping upon the conductoraseries of metal couplings,

D, correspondent in number with the number of the uncoated inter-lengths, which morespectivelyslid along the conductor until they assume their intended positions over its uncoated portions. They are then secured in place by solder or other convenient means. Each metal tube or couplingis made slightly longer than the uucoated portiouwhich it is designed to protect, so that it-overlaps the extremities of the coated lengths on both sides thereof.

The couplings are, if desired, themselves made of ductile metal, andfit desired, they can be applied in the original manufacture of the conductor, instead of after its laying, in

which case they will readily bend at the bends formed in folding the conductor into short lengths and unhend when it is straightened.

instead of employing separate couplings of "metal, the uncoated iuterlengths may be coated by electro-deposition or by kindred method after the conductor has been straightened out in readiness to be laid. Whichever practice I resort to insures the complete protection or coating of the entire length of the conductor when it is straightened out.

My invention renders practicable the employmentof a large class of electroplated insulated conductors heretofore of small utility, for the reasons stated, but practically of value because being non-inducing conductors, upon or in contact with which wires charged with heavy currents can be safely laid.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. As an improvement in electroplated in sulated conductors, a wire provided throughout its length with a continuous i'usulatingenvelope, and also provided upon said ins-u latin g envelope with predeterminedleugths of 0 coating immovably applied thereto by electrolysis, electro-depositi0n,'or kindred method, a

in such'nian ner and at such intervalsas to leave intermediate lengths of exposed insulating-- envelope, snbstantia-llyas and for the purposes specified.

'2. The method of forming anelectroplated insulated conductor of the character herein recited, which is adapted to be folded for handling 'or transportation, which consists, first, in depositing upon a previously completed insulated wire, by electrolysis, electrmdcpositiou, or kindred method, predetermined lengths of immovable metallic coating, so spaced apart as to leaveintermed-iate lengths of the insulated coating of the wire exposed; and second, in bending or folding the insulated but uncoated interleugths, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. As an improvement in electroplated insulated conductors of the class herein recited,-

a wire provided with an insulated envelope extending its entire length, and also provided with pred termined lengths of coating immovably deposited, by electrolysis, electro-deposition, or kindred method, upon the insulatingenvelope,in combination with tubularorother couplings or coverings separately applied over the uncoated but insulated iuterlengths, substantially as hereinbet'ore set forth.

This specification signed and witnessed this 4th day of September, 1882.

NATHAN H. E'DGERTON.

Witnesses: I A

HENRY M. BOYD, HAMILTON B. SHARPS, Jr. 

